Infographic: Plastics’ Effects

Lab studies suggest that plastic pollutants in the environment could have detrimental effects on animals’ physiology.

May 31, 2017

Ee Ling Ng

Research into the consequences of plastic pollution for organisms living in contaminated environments remains sparse. The most extensive work done so far has focused on plastic additives, such as bisphenol A, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and phthalates. Laboratory experiments using rodent models have demonstrated that these compounds can disrupt the endocrine system, cause birth defects, reduce sperm production, trigger insulin resistance, and impair learning and memory.